More work from the class

While some of the work for the class  was done on loose sheets I also did a fair amount in my journals.  There was a time when I would work in one journal until I had filled it- not any more.  In fact I have at least five going right now all different sizes I will share a few spreads that are recent here. This will be my last post for 2017  So Happy New Year to you all.

This spread was inspired by a wonderful thing- right before the snow covered our deck- I looked out one morning and there was this beautiful bight white ermine. Lots going on here- not sure just yet on the levels of meaning but there are several. This is a fold out in my big journal- 12 x 25. The traits of this spirit animal are interesting. I feel our hearts/spirits are connected to everything-Weasel Animal Totems traits include: Quick wit, forethought, good mental acuity
Encourages intense observation of life situations
Ability to analyze these situations and deduce probable outcomes

This spread like the one above is a fold out spread.  I have dealt with some challenging things this year. A few health things that are getting better and some  issues with people in my life. This quote is what inspired this spread.

 

Sometimes the person you'd
take a bullet for ends up
being the one behind the gun.

This spread is in my larger journal- this fold out is 12 inches tall and 25 inches long.

The background was fun-  I have an eBrush  this is an air brush for markers-  you can get adapters for various markers-  sharpies work- and copic markers- prismacolor markers and there are a couple of other kinds. I drew and cut out some chairs and used those as masks.  More working with the houses on the chairs.  Is the house inviting you to come in and sit or is it keeping you from being comfortable?

 

I did a positive negative thing with the chair- I have set my boundaries and feeling protective and protected. People have asked how I can stand to cut out detailed things- for me it is a sort of zen like I have music on and I cut away- I will say the barbed wire was tricky but yet that helped me think about the concept of keeping one out of a space or keeping someone from getting in your space.

 

 

The ending of a year always has me thinking about my life- what I have experienced- what I enjoyed about this year what was challenging- and then I send out my hopes for the new year to the universe. The large door in this is a photograph of mine that I altered- this house ruin is near where we use to live- I was so drawn to it. It is like a portal in this context. Best not to get trapped in the past.

 

 

Some new work

I have been taking an online class from Fonda Clark Haight. The class is titled:  The Down Deep- Mining Your Truths on the Creative Journey.  Part of this was very much out of my comfort zone and it is why I took the class.  I was not disappointed. I tried out some new ways of working and that's always a good thing.  The people in the class were an amazing group- lots of deep sharing and so supportive of one another. I still am amazed at how close  I can become with people in an online class- this class was a great way to end the year- had lots to process and this was a great place to do just that.  Here are a few of the pieces from the class- these are all mixed media collages.

I have certain images that I use frequently in my work.  Chairs, houses, doors, windows, birds are part of my visual vocabulary.   2 big symbols for me are houses and chairs- what you see here- the house is a very potent symbol with lots of good and bad feelings associated with it. Chairs for me are are big and the meaning depends on the piece. Chairs can be a place of power- or a place of punishment or a symbol for intimacy- when you pull the chair up close and rejection it is turns away. Of course I had to collage- also used stabillo pencil. I drew the chairs and cut them out of chipboard and placed under the paper and did rubbings over them.

 

On this one I used the house symbol- I also cut out the house swish symbol out of chip board and did a rubbing.  A house  can also be viewed as simply a place where we can express my private and unguarded self.   The house has meaning with memories both good and very challenging- happiness and sorrow.

Each of us carries within us our own ideas and memories of home.

Ravens are very special to me-  I am very fortunate as we have them around our house and I love to hearing them talking to one another.  I have such a deep connection to nature.

 

Finally I am doing a post

It has been a long time-  what can I say- life happens. I wanted to share some good news- Our Watermark Art Center,https://watermarkartcenter.org/galleries/ here in Bemidji had it's grand opening December 2nd.  The center had been under construction for a year.  I was honored to be asked to have a show in one of the 4 galleries in the new center. The center is 10,000 square feet- there are 4 galleries and a beautiful space for art workshops- a retail shop and The Region 2 Arts Council has their offices  there.  Here are a few pictures. I will be posting some new journal work soon.

Here I am with The Watermark Art Center's director, Lori Forshee-Donnay

during the opening.

 

View of the reception desk from the Lake View Gallery.

That is my wonderful supportive husband reading my

artist statement.

A shot of part of my show

Another shot of my show- I have 25 pieces in the show